Annual Conference 2017

#Microbio17

Monday 3 April – Thursday 6 April 2017
EICC, Edinburgh, UK 

Annual Conference 2017 is fast approaching, and this year promises to be a memorable event. Not only are we located in a fantastic building in the awe-inspiring location of Edinburgh, but we also have the largest programme we’ve ever had, with 29 scientific sessions covering the full spectrum of microbiology and over 200 invited speakers from around the world. You can register up to a week before the Conference with the following included in your registration fee.

Admission to all scientific sessions
There are four days of conference and 29 scientific sessions to choose from across the week, and you will have a range of opportunities to engage in and be inspired by the quality of research on offer. Our scientific community have done us proud once again by identifying the best of the best and the key trends in 2017. Plus, unlike some other conferences, you are not required to book onto specific sessions, meaning you can move around the event during breaks to really personalise your conference experience. 

Admission to lunchtime events
There will be plenty of time during lunch breaks to enjoy the networking and food, as well as some additional talks and ‘flash poster’ presentations. So grab your lunch and head on over to the Live at Lunch sessions, or come and support those who are presenting a flash poster on our exhibition stand.

Full access to the trade exhibition
You will have access to over 20 exhibitors who can provide you with information on the latest technologies, ideas on developing your career, and places to undertake new opportunities. Many of our stands also offer goodies, and once again you can take part in our Passport to Prizes to win an array of gifts donated by our exhibitors. 

Full access to scientific poster sessions
Posters are a large part of our Annual Conference, and following our 2016 evaluation, we have strived this year to improve the experience for those presenting. During our Conference, posters will be on display around the exhibition hall and can be seen during all breaks and lunchtimes. Each evening and during Thursday’s lunch hour, presenting authors will be on standby to talk to you about their work. We will no longer have parallel events taking place at the same time as the poster sessions, and all posters will be automatically entered into our four prize categories. The first set will be awarded by the Editors of our journals, the second chosen by members of the Early Career Microbiologists’ Forum, while our Principal Investigators will select the third. The fourth ‘People’s Choice’ award will be decided upon by delegates at the event using a voting slip. In addition, we will also be showcasing posters during the lunch break at our stand with flash presentations. Selected presenters will be given a slot for three slides and one quick-fire question. It will be an opportunity to tell you why you should go and view their work, and will be a fun and entertaining element to the posters this year! Catch them during lunch on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Hot buffet lunch plus tea and coffee breaks every day
Each day you will be provided with an inclusive lunch offering, and tea and coffee breaks at the beginning of the day, and during the mid-morning and afternoon breaks. Following feedback from our 2016 event, we have been working even harder with the venue to ensure your catering needs are met, especially around dietary requirements. There will be a hot food choice for everyone during lunch, and we’ll ensure that drinking water is always available. Additionally, this year we will also provide some welcome refreshments to help you with those early starts throughout the conference week. As always, our events provide a fantastic platform to network, which is why we strive to provide you with the best catering possible onsite where your peers and colleagues await to connect with you!

Two free drinks vouchers during the poster viewing sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening
During the poster presentations at the Annual Conference, each delegate will be provided with two drinks vouchers to be used during the evening receptions. A variety of drinks are provided, including non-alcoholic drinks. 

A delegate bag and conference material
Each delegate will be provided with a Microbiology Society bag on arrival, which will contain a conference guide to help you navigate your way around our event, as well as a pen, a lanyard and your free drinks vouchers.

Professional Development events – Enhancing your career at the Annual Conference

This year, the Society will be bringing back professional development sessions to the Annual Conference. Delegates will be able to attend sessions on Monday and Tuesday, with this year’s topics on careers and scientific publishing. Look on our website for more information.

Pre-Conference networking

Sunday 2 April
18:00–21:00
Tickets: £20.00

On the Sunday ahead of our Annual Conference, we will be hosting a session to give early career researchers the chance to meet other delegates and to hone their networking skills. 

Participants will get to take part in activities designed to help them meet as many people as possible, and also have the opportunity to practice networking with senior members of the Microbiology Society. This event is a perfect opportunity for delegates to gather an audience for their presentation later in the week, and meet future collaborators.

Tickets can be purchased for £20 and include a packed schedule of activities, dinner and drinks. Delegates can book via the online conference registration system on the Society website.

Scientific publishing: writing and reviewing manuscripts

Tuesday 4 April
10:00–17:00

Effective communication of research is instrumental to the successful career of a scientist, and peer review is essential for the process of scientific publishing. These sessions will therefore give delegates a firm understanding of how to write a great manuscript, and also how to review fairly and accurately, directly from Editors of the Society’s Journal of Medical Microbiology. 

‘How to write a manuscript’ is a session aimed at PhD students, postdoctoral fellows and early career scientists who wish to understand what makes for an attractive manuscript. This will help those seeking to improve their skills in preparing a manuscript for a peer-reviewed journal. 

‘How to review a manuscript’ is a session aimed at postdoctoral fellows and early career scientists who are looking to improve their skills in reviewing manuscripts for scientific journals. Many reviewers do not receive formal instruction or training. This workshop will guide attendees in the steps of constructively reviewing a manuscript. 

To reserve a place on one of these free workshops, please choose the option while registering for the Annual Conference. Early booking is advised as places are strictly limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact [email protected] for further details. 

Post-PhD: finding a career that suits you

Monday 3 April
11:00–17:00

In an increasingly competitive job market (within and outside of academia), it is vital that PhD students and early career researchers take a proactive approach to their careers so that they maximise their chances to achieve career success, whatever that might be. To help you plan your career, we’re offering delegates the chance to explore the opportunities available. During the morning session, academic careers specialist Sarah Blackford* will be taking participants through her PhD Career Choice Indicator, which she developed to show users how to identify initial career options by looking at their skills and passions and linking them to careers of interest. The aim of the session is to raise awareness and encourage a more strategic attitude towards career planning, and, as Sarah recommends, attendees will also be able to share their career ideas with peers and get a broader view of their career opportunities. To give participants an idea of the careers out there, the afternoon session will involve several case studies of scientists who have gone on to diverse careers after their PhDs, and the day will conclude with a peer-reviewed CV workshop.

*Sarah Blackford’s careers website (aimed at bioscientists working or studying in higher education) can be found at www.biosciencecareers.org.

Maria Fernandes

Professional Development Manager 

Dianndra Roberts

Editorial Development Coordinator

Prize Lecture winners

Our 2017 Prizes Lectures have been announced, and the winners will each present a Prize Lecture at the Annual Conference. Take a note of who is talking and when to avoid missing out. All Prize Lectures will take place in the Pentland Lecture Theatre, EICC, Edinburgh.

2017 Prize Medal

Professor Michael Rossman
Purdue University, Indiana, USA
Tuesday 4 April – 09:00

2017 Fleming Prize

Professor Stephen Baker 
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tuesday 4 April – 17:40 

2017 Marjory Stephenson Prize

Professor Steve Busby FRS
University of Birmingham, UK
Wednesday 5 April – 09:00 

2017 Colworth Prize

Professor Martin Ryan
University of St Andrews, UK
Wednesday 5 April – 17:40 

Debate – ‘Microbiome Research – opportunity or over-hype’

Monday 3 April – 17:40

On Monday afternoon, we will be hosting a lively debate on the recent microbiome research with a panel of experts who will discuss and debate if the research is an opportunity or if the microbiome is an over-hyped topic. The debate will be broad in scope, including the topics covered in the Microbiome Policy Project on health, agriculture and food, environment and sustainability. You can contribute to this discussion by submitting your questions via our Twitter feed or during the debate itself. 

Social Programme Events

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to secure your place at our social programme events. There is limited space and tickets are selling fast. 

Quiz Night – Ghillie Dhu

Tickets £25.00
Monday 3 April – 20:30

Join us on Monday night at the Ghillie Dhu for our Annual Conference quiz night, where we will put your trivia, celebrity, sporting and microbiological knowledge to the test! If you’re up for the challenge, you can secure your ticket online when registering for the Conference. The evening also includes a two-course meal and a welcome drink, plus prizes for the winning team and losing team! Teams can be set up on the night or arranged in advance, with up to eight people per team so everyone can get involved. Tickets are limited. Cash bar onsite. 

Traditional Ceilidh – The Hub

Tickets £50.00
Wednesday 5 April – 20:00 

Join us on Wednesday evening at The Hub for dinner and a dance to celebrate the last night at the Annual Conference. Tickets can be purchased online when registering for the Conference, and prices include a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, a five-option buffet and half a bottle of wine per person. All of this will be followed by a highly recommended, four-piece ceilidh band called Reel Time, who will get you onto the dance floor to learn some traditional but simple ceilidh dancing! Tickets are limited. Cash bar onsite.